Batch-measuring device for feeding materials to curb presses



March 193'. H. F. M MlLLlN 2,111,915

BATCH MEASURING DEVICE FOR FEEDING MATERIALS TO CURB PRESSES Filed April 8, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Jfou'mral FMac/YLL-z'n ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 22, 1938 BATCH-MEASURING DEVICE FOR FEEDING MATERIALS T CURB PRESSES Howard F. MacMillin, Mount Gilead, cm, as-

Signor to The Hydraulic Press Corporation,

Inc.,- Wilmingto aware 11, Del, a corporation of Del- Application April s, 19s c, Serial No. 73,332 '1 Claims. (cigar-412) This invention relates to feeding and charging devices, and especially to devices adapted tor feeding measured quantities of materials to various apparatus. .-In the present embodiment the charging device is particularly adapted for feeding materials to curb presses, such as are used for extracting oil from. animal or vegetable mat.

ter.

One object of this invention is to provide a batch-measuring and feeding device, wherein the measuring members are actuated alternately by fluid pressure means.

Another object, is to provide a feeding and charging device, wherein a pair of moving members, such as slides, are operatedalternateiy by fluid pressure cylinders which are interconnected by conduits so that one piston is. operating in one direction while the other piston is operating in the opposite direction.

Another object is to provide a feeding and charging device of the above description, wherein means is provided for bringing the pistons to a gradual halt without sudden jars or jolts of the mechanism.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 isa central vertical section through the'batch-measuring and feeding device of this invention, taken in the plane of the actuating piston rods.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure l.

Figure -3 is a side elevation of the apparatus I shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section along the line t-d in Figure'l.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary central vertical section through the plane of the actuating piston rodsi taken inlthe opposite direction from Figure Referring to the drawings in detail, Figure 1 shows the feeding and charging device of this invention as consisting of a casing Ill, of approximate cylindrical form, having a cylindrical ore II therethrough. The bottom or the casing I is provided with a flange 12,-whereby. the entire device may be secured. as by the bolts H, to the head I3 of the apparatus to which the materials are to be red in measured charges. The apparatus may, for example. consist of a curb press for compressing quantities of vegetable or animal matter so as to extract the oil therefrom. It is preferable in. such presses to insert these materials in measured charges and thereby economize in the operation of the press;

' The casing I0 is likewise provided with an .position, as shown in Figur upper flange id, to' which a funnel may be attached if desired, in order to assist the filling of the device. The casing It .within the bore ii is provided with grooveways It, of a roughly V- shaped cross section. These grooveways It pass half-way around the interior of the'bore Ii, and serve for the guidance of measuring slides H and it. The slides I1 and i8 havebeveled edges l9, which cooperate with the grooveways it for the guidance of the slides. The end 28 of each slide is semi-circular in shape, and also beveled in cross section. The slides l1 and it are secured, respectively, to crossheads 2i and 22 mounted on piston rods 23 and M, and held inposition by retaining nuts- 25. The piston rods 23 and 2d are provided with piston heads 26 and Ti, reciprocating in bores 2d and '29 in a cylinder block it. The outer ends of the cylinder bores 28 and 29 are closed by cylinder heads at bolted thereto.

The opposite ends of the cylinder bores 28 and 2d are provided with apertures 32 for the passage of the'piston rods 23 and 2d, and are also provided with glands 33 to prevent leakage around the piston rods 23 and 2d.

The cylinder block to is bolted to the frame 36, which in turn, is secured, as by the bolts 35, to the side of the casing H]. For the reception of the slides I! and it the end 36 of the frame 36 and the wall of the casing ii! are provided with slots 31 and 38, respectively. The. opposite ends of the cylinder bore 28 are provided with pipe connections 39 and W, the lower cylinder bore 29 being provided with similar connections M and 42. The connections 39 and G2 are interconnected by the pipe 43, whereas the connections in and M are similarly interconnected by the pipe 4d. The pipes 43 and It terminate in junctions i5 and 66, respectively. Theselead, by means of the pipes M and 68, to the four-way valve 48 having the operating handle 50 for controlling the valve member ti thereof. The present invention is not concerned with the detailsof the valve d9. any

suitable valve peing used. For example, each .pressure fluid through the connections 40 and ti by way of the pipe 41 into the-cylinder bores 28 and 29, the fluid will enter on opposite sides of thepiston heads 28 and 21, respectively, forcing them in Opposite directions. The piston head 26 will be forced to itsextreme left-hand position and the piston head 21. to extreme right-hand 1. The fluid exhausted from' the opposite sides of the piston heads 28 and 21 is discharged through the connections 39 and 42 into the pipe 48. Under this action the slide i1 moves to the left, and discloses the opening in the bore II or the casing I At the same time, the slide it moves across the bore I l and completely closes this bore. The materials may then be dumped in through the aperture in the top of the bore II, either directly or through the chute 52.

If the handle 50' is now shifted to reverse the flow of the pressure fluid, the line 48 becomes the pressure line and the line 41 the discharge line. Accordingly, the piston heads 26 and 2'! reverse their strokes and return to the opposite positions shown in Figure 1. When this occurs the slide l1 moves to the right to close the top of the bore Ii, whereas the slide l8 moves to the left to open a passageway for a measured charge of material to drop into the press, or other apparatus. The beveled edge 20 on the end or each' slide enables the slide to cut its way through any materials, thus cleanly severing the measured portion of the chargefrom any surplus material which happens to be in the device. If the chute 52 is kept filled with material the alternate motion of the slides ll and l8 will continue to separate charges and allow them to fall into the apparatus as rapidly as the valve handle ill is operated.

In order to prevent the sudden halting of the piston and the slide, and thus prevent vibration and damage to the moving parts, means is provided for causing the pistons to come to a gradual halt. For this purpose, Figure 5, tapered ports 53, 54, 55, and 56 are provided for the passage of pressure fluid to and from the cylinder bores 28 and 29. This construction causes the gradual cutting oil of the fluid, with the result of a cushioning action and a gradual halting of the pistons.

It will be understood that it is desired to comprehend within this invention such modifications as come within the scope of the claims and the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A charging device comprising a container, 9. pair of spaced sliding members for selectively opening and closing said container at locations spaced apart from each other a predetermined volume, a piston and cylinder assembly for moving each sliding member, and means for supplying pressure fluid oppositely to said piston and cylinder assemblies oppositely to cause said members to move in opposite directions simultaneously.

2. A charging device comprising a container, a pair of spaced 'sliding' members for selectively opening and closing saidcontainer at locations spaced apart from each other a predetermined volume, a piston and cylinder assembly for moving each sliding member, and means intercon-v necting the opposite ends of said cylinders tocause one sliding member to move in one direction while the other sliding member is moving in the opposite direction.

3. A. charging device comprising a container, a pair of movable members for selectively opening and closing spaced apertures in said container and including a predetermined volume therebetween, a fluid pressure motor arranged to move each member, a valve arranged to control the distribution of fluid for said motors, and means arranged to supply pressure fluid oppositely to said motors for causing said members to move simultaneously in opposite directions.

4. A charging device comprising a container, a

pair of movable members for closing spaced apertures in said container, a fluid pressure motor arranged to move each member, a valve arranged to control the distribution of fluid for said motors, and means interconnecting said valve and said motors to supply pressure fluid oppositely to said motors for causing said motors to move said members simultaneously in opposite directions.

5. A charging device comprising a container, a a pair of movable members for closing spaced apertures in said container, a fluid pressure motor arranged to movesaid members, a valve arranged to control the distribution of fluid 'for said motor, means arranged to cause said members to move simultaneously in opposite directions, and means associated with said motors to bring said motors to a gradual halt as said members approach the limits of their motion.

6. A charging device comprising a container, a pair of movable members for closing spaced apertures in said container, 9, piston and cylinder astribute pressure fluid to said cylinders, and means associated with said assemblies for gradually decelerating the pistons of said assemblies while approachingthe extreme limits of their motion.

7. A charging device comprising a container, a pair of movable members for closing spaced apertures in said container,'a piston and cylinder assembly for operating each member, means for interconnecting the opposite ends of the cylinders of said assemblies, valve means arronged to distribute pressure fluid to said cylinders, and tapering ports in the cylinders of said assemblies for causing a gradual throttling or the fluid pressure therethrough, whereby to gradually decelerate the pistons of said assemblies while approaching the extreme limits of their motion.

HOWARD F. MACMILLIN. 

